Chicago Fire Department firefighters responded to a fire around 6:43 p.m. in the 2800 block of North Christiana Avenue in Logan Square.
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No one was injured in the fire, Chicago fire officials said. The fire has been put out. Two families were displaced from the homes.
There were more than 100 firefighters on the scene as the flames spread between three homes.
Gary Durbin was outside when he saw smoke coming from his house.
"I went back and opened the door and the house just blew up. All the smoke turned into flames the windows blew out; the siding, everything," Durbin said.
Neighbors quickly came to the rescue to break down the door of his home and carry out his mother, Eline Durbin, who was upstairs sleeping when the fire started.
"They were carrying me out by my feet. They were gonna take me out of there," Eline said.
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Eline and her son Gary have lived there for decades, and now only memories remain with significant damage to the home leaving them displaced.
"We lost everything, I mean we don't even have a place to go... the clothes we're wearing," Gary said.
The largest flames were in the rear porches of the building. Chicago Fire Department Deputy District Chief Kelly Burns described it as a fast-moving fire.
CFD officials provide update on Logan Square house fire
"I live here 50 years. Of course I'm sad. I can't even feel. that's how I feel, I don't feel anything," Eline said.
Neighbors rallied around the family, with one woman bringing Eline a sweater to stay warm.
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The family was relieved to see their pets made it out safe. Their dog, Bandit, was rescued, bringing Gary joy for just a moment.
"I was happy. That was the greatest thing in the world," Gary said. "I thought for sure he was dead. That was a blessing."
The Red Cross is helping the two displaced families.
Video posted to the Citizen app showed flames and smoke coming out of the home.
CFD battles house fire in Logan Square, video shows
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.